CountyScore

Barton County

Kansas · KS

#88 in Kansas
63.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Barton County, Kansas

Barton County delivers above-median livability

Barton County's composite score of 65.1 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 30%, marking it as a livable county by American standards. This advantage centers on strong housing affordability despite moderate income levels.

Tracking slightly below the Kansas norm

Barton County's 65.1 score trails Kansas' state average of 66.0 by 0.9 points, placing it in the lower half of the state's rankings. This positions the county as a slightly less advantaged region within Kansas' overall livability landscape.

Housing affordability and taxes are the bright spots

Barton County offers a cost score of 83.4 with rent averaging $742/month and home values of $117,200—both quite affordable by regional standards. The tax score of 55.5 with a 1.662% effective rate is moderate for the region.

Income lag and limited comparative data are concerns

The income score of 20.4 with median household earnings of $56,733 represents the lowest in this county group, limiting purchasing power and economic opportunity. Critical information on safety, health, schools, and environmental risks remains unavailable.

Suits retirees and minimalist households best

Barton County is most appropriate for retirees with fixed incomes, remote workers, and individuals seeking minimal living expenses in a small-town environment. The very affordable housing and low-cost lifestyle appeal to those who don't require high local wage opportunities.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax55.5Cost83.4SafetyComing SoonHealth66.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome20.4Risk39.7WaterComing Soon
🏛55.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼20.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡39.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Barton County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Floyd County
Georgia
63.2
Median income: $62,540
Henry County
Illinois
63.2
Median income: $69,912
Fayette County
Kentucky
63.2
Median income: $67,631
Nantucket County
Massachusetts
63.2
Median income: $119,750
Dakota County
Minnesota
63.2
Median income: $105,212

Deep Dives

Barton County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Barton County

via TaxByCounty

Barton taxes above national median

Barton County's effective tax rate of 1.662% exceeds the national median of 1.4%, positioning it in the upper-middle range for property tax burden across America. Homeowners pay a median of $1,948 annually—28% below the national median of $2,690—due to Kansas's lower home values compared to the national average.

High-rate county in Kansas

Barton County ranks among Kansas's higher-taxing counties with an effective rate of 1.662%, above the state average of 1.549%. The median tax of $1,948 slightly exceeds Kansas's median of $1,943, reflecting Barton's moderate home value of $117,200.

Similar to Barber, higher than Bourbon

Barton County's 1.662% rate nearly matches Barber County's 1.663%, though Barton homeowners pay more annually ($1,948 vs. $1,542) due to higher home values. Barton also edges above Bourbon County's 1.670%, showing how rates cluster across this region.

Your Barton County tax bill

A homeowner with a $117,200 property in Barton County pays roughly $1,948 in annual property taxes at the current effective rate. With mortgage considerations, the bill reaches approximately $2,016, or drops to $1,865 without mortgage-related taxes.

Question your valuation

Barton County residents facing higher-than-average tax rates should scrutinize their property assessments carefully. Even a modest reduction in assessed value through a formal appeal can translate to significant annual savings given Barton's elevated rate structure.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Barton County

via CostByCounty

Barton County faces highest rent burden

Barton County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.7% ranks among the most strained in this analysis, exceeding national affordability limits by 1.6 percentage points. Despite rents of $742—slightly below national averages—lower household incomes of $56,733 create disproportionate housing burden.

Barton struggles most in Kansas

At 15.7%, Barton County's rent-to-income ratio peaks above the Kansas average of 14.7% by a full percentage point, marking it as the state's most affordability-challenged county examined. The median rent of $742 mirrors state averages, but paired with the lowest incomes analyzed, generates severe budget strain.

Barton and Barber compete for affordability

Barton's $742 rent virtually matches Barber County's $743, yet Barton renters face marginally worse affordability (15.7% vs. 15.5%) due to $782 lower incomes. Both counties represent the region's most cost-burdened rental markets despite low absolute rents.

Barton County's tight housing budget

Barton households earning $56,733 allocate $742 for rent (15.7% of income) or $771 for mortgages, consuming more proportional income than most Kansas peers. Median home values of $117,200 offer moderate purchase paths but remain challenging relative to local wage levels.

Barton requires careful affordability planning

Consider Barton County cautiously—rents consume more of your paycheck here than in most Kansas alternatives, and mortgage ratios demand careful savings. Explore higher-income opportunities locally or weigh relocation to less-strained counties like Bourbon or Brown before deciding.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Barton County

via IncomeByCounty

Barton County faces national income challenge

Barton County's median household income of $56,733 ranks 24% below the national median of $74,755. This substantial gap places the county among the lower-earning regions nationwide, typical of rural Great Plains communities.

Lowest income among these eight counties

Barton County's median household income of $56,733 trails the Kansas state average of $64,428 by $7,695, making it the lowest-earning county in this analysis. The per capita income of $31,835 sits below the state average of $34,748.

Struggling compared to peers

Barton County's $56,733 median household income ranks lowest among the eight counties examined, falling behind even Allen County ($57,618) and Barber County ($57,615). The modest income reflects dependence on agricultural employment and smaller manufacturing bases.

Housing strains household budgets

Barton County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.7% is the highest among these counties, meaning residents allocate a larger share of earnings to housing costs. With a median home value of $117,200, homeownership requires careful financial planning for most households.

Maximize every earning opportunity

Barton County households earning $56,733 need disciplined saving habits, targeting $567-$850 monthly in savings or investments. Taking advantage of employer benefits, seeking supplemental income, and consulting nonprofit credit counseling services can help residents overcome income constraints.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Barton County

via HealthByCounty

Barton County approaches national average

At 74.7 years, Barton County falls short of the U.S. life expectancy of 80.1 years by over 5 years, though its 16.8% poor/fair health rate is slightly better than peers. The county shows room for improvement but some positive health indicators.

Near state average with mixed results

Barton County's 74.7-year life expectancy sits below Kansas's 75.4-year state average, though its poor/fair health rate of 16.8% is among the state's lower rates. This mixed profile suggests some health strengths offset by longevity challenges.

Mid-range on access and coverage

Barton County's 13.4% uninsured rate is the highest in this peer group, while its 64 primary care and 265 mental health providers per 100K show strong behavioral health investment. This provider imbalance suggests mental health initiatives may overshadow primary care access.

Uninsured rate strains system

At 13.4%, Barton County's uninsured rate—nearly 2 points above the state average—means over 1 in 7 residents lack financial access to care. Yet the county's 265 mental health providers per 100K (the highest in this cohort) indicates substantial investment in behavioral health capacity.

Address Barton's coverage gap

Barton County's 13.4% uninsured rate is the highest here—meaning real barriers to preventive and routine care for thousands. Explore Kansas marketplace plans and local federally qualified health centers that serve uninsured patients.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Barton County

via RiskByCounty

Barton County faces moderate disaster risk

Barton County scores 60.31 on the national composite risk scale with a Relatively Low rating, placing it above the national average for natural disaster exposure. This score reflects a county where multiple hazards converge at meaningful levels rather than a single dominant threat. Residents should take tornado, wildfire, and flood risks seriously in their preparedness planning.

Among Kansas's riskier counties

Barton County's composite risk of 60.31 is more than double the Kansas state average of 29.89, ranking it in the state's upper tier of risk exposure. The county faces elevated hazard exposure across tornadoes (86.64), wildfire (74.08), and floods (42.75), creating a complex disaster landscape. This combination reflects Barton County's central Kansas geography and climate patterns.

Riskier than nearby eastern counties

Barton County (60.31) carries substantially more composite risk than Allen, Anderson, Atchison, and Brown counties to the east, all scoring under 18. However, it remains safer overall than Butler County (74.40) directly to the south. Barton County represents a transitional zone where disaster risk escalates noticeably westward and southward across central Kansas.

Tornadoes, wildfires, and floods converge

Barton County's tornado risk of 86.64 is its most severe hazard and approaches the highest exposures statewide. Wildfire risk of 74.08 and flood risk of 42.75 add substantial secondary concerns that demand preparation. Together, these three hazards create a multi-faceted disaster landscape requiring comprehensive household planning.

Multi-hazard preparedness essential

Barton County residents need comprehensive disaster plans addressing tornadoes (safe room, early warning systems), flooding (evacuation routes, flood insurance), and wildfires (defensible space, evacuation supplies). Flood insurance is critical and must be obtained 30 days before coverage starts, so evaluate your property's flood risk immediately. Review and practice your household emergency plan twice yearly to maintain readiness across multiple hazard types.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.